Identifying the Spark of the 1857 Revolt
The Revolt of 1857, a significant uprising against British rule in India, had numerous underlying causes. However, a specific event is often cited as the immediate catalyst that ignited the widespread mutiny.
Mangal Pandey's Role
Mangal Pandey, a sepoy in the 34th Bengal Native Infantry, is credited with igniting the spark. In March 1857, at Barrackpore, he attacked British officers. This act of defiance stemmed from discontent over the newly introduced greased cartridges, rumored to be smeared with animal fat offensive to both Hindu and Muslim soldiers.
- Pandey's refusal to use the cartridges and his subsequent attack on British officers marked a direct confrontation.
- Although his actions were initially isolated, they resonated with other sepoys, contributing significantly to the outbreak of the wider rebellion shortly thereafter.
Analysis of Other Options
The other figures mentioned were prominent in different phases of India's struggle for independence:
- Bhagat Singh: A key revolutionary leader in the early 20th century.
- Subhash Chandra Bose: Led the Indian National Army in the 1940s.
- Jawaharlal Nehru: India's first Prime Minister, a central figure in the later stages of the independence movement.
Therefore, Mangal Pandey's actions directly preceded and precipitated the 1857 revolt.
Similar Questions
- When were Bahadur Shah Zafar and his wife Begum Zinat Mahal sent to prison in Rangoon?
- Who among the following sent a telegram on 6 August 1857 stating, 'Our men are cowed by the numbers opposed to them and the endless fighting. Every village is held against us, the zamindars have risen to oppose us'?
- Tatya Tope was one of the leaders who participated in the Indian rebellion of:
- Which Indian sepoy in the British army played a key part in events immediately preceding the outbreak of the Indian rebellion of 1857?
- Who said, "Neither first, nor national not war of independence" with context to 'The Sepoy Mutiny and Revolt of 1857'?
- What is the full form of BHEL, the famous public sector unit of the Government of India?
- In which year was Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi killed in battle?
- India's first struggle for independence started on $10^{\text{th}}$ May 1857 at:
- The 1857 revolt at Lucknow was led by:
- The Sepoy Mutiny or First war of Independence against British rule took place in the year:
Important Questions from The Great Revolt of 1857
Which one of the following statements about the Revolt of 1857 is correct?
Which one of the following statements about the ishtahars issued during the Revolt of 1857 is correct?
Which of the following statements about the first act of the Revolt of 1857 is/are true?
- It occurred in Meerut when two sepoys stole a superior officer's rifle.
- It began when the Rani of Jhansi declared war on the British.
- It began when Mangal Pandey fired at a European officer in Meerut.
- It began when Mangal Pandey fired at a European officer in Barrackpore.
Who among the following was believed to be a leader of the Sanyasis and Fakirs conspiring against the British in 1857?
The Indian Mutiny began from Meerut on 10 May 1857 and ended in:
